Novak Djokovic waited 5 years to return to Indian Wells however the Serb’s marketing campaign within the California desert got here to a detailed a lot faster than anybody anticipated after 20-year-old Luca Nardi pulled off a surprising 6-4 3-6 6-3 upset on Monday.
The world primary had not competed on the match since 2019 resulting from U.S. journey restrictions associated to the COVID-19 pandemic and noticed his hopes of profitable a file sixth title dashed by the 123rd ranked fortunate loser.
“He really didn’t have anything to lose, so he played great. Deserved to win,” Djokovic advised reporters.
“I used to be extra stunned with my stage. My stage was actually, actually dangerous.
“These two things come together. He’s having a great day, I’m having a really bad day.”
While Djokovic was uncharacteristically sloppy, Nardi was sharp, racing across the courtroom and pounding serves and forehands to beat the 24-time Grand Slam champion he grew up idolizing.
“I made some really terrible unforced errors,” Djokovic stated.
“Just fairly defensive tennis and never a lot on the ball within the third, and that is it. He simply stepped in and he used the time that he had.
“He was playing more free and more aggressive than I did, and going for his shots and that break on 3-2 in the third was enough.”
Djokovic, who misplaced to a different Italian, Jannik Sinner, within the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January, stated he would doubtless take the courtroom searching for his first title of the yr on the Miami Open later this month.
“No titles this year, that’s not something I’m used to,” he stated.
“I was starting the season most of my career with a Grand Slam win or, you know, Dubai win, or any tournament,” he stated.
“I guess every trophy that eventually comes my way is going to be great, obviously to break the kind of negative cycle a little bit I’m having in the last three, four tournaments where I haven’t really been close to my best.”
Source: www.anews.com.tr